SJM Macao Open: Flawless Sungjae halfway to first Asian Tour win
Sungjae Im [main picture] showed his class for the second straight day at the SJM Macao Open after shooting a seven-under-par 63 today to take a three-shot lead.
Having carded a 64 here yesterday at Macau Golf & Country Club he has moved to 13-under – thanks to 13 birdies and, impressively, not a single dropped shot.
Chinese-Taipei’s Wang Wei-hsuan, beaten in a sudden-death play-off here last year, matched Im’s round with a 63 and is in joint second place along with American Austin Truslow, in with a 64.
Lee Chieh-po from Chinese-Taipei and China’s Wu Ashun are next best placed in a tie for fourth, two shots further back. Lee carded a 66 and Wu a 67.
Korea’s Im – a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, where he has been playing for the last eight years – is yet to win an Asian Tour event but will have one of his best opportunities to do so this weekend.
Said the 28-year-old: “I’ve shot two low rounds, six under yesterday and seven under today. Bogey-free rounds for two days, so I’m very happy with how I’m playing.”
Wang Wei-hsuan.
For the second straight day great weather prevailed, tempered only by some wind.
“The wind for the next days is going to be really important factor for me,” said Im. “If the wind is blowing or pretty strong, I’ll play safer. And if it’s not blowing as hard, I’ll try to attack a bit more, play more aggressive.”
He started on the back nine and made birdies on 11, 12, 15 and the last, before further gains on four, six and seven.
A member of The International Team at last month’s Presidents Cup, he is in pursuit of his first win since claiming the Woori Financial Group Championship on the Korean PGA Tour in 2024.
His two titles on the PGA Tour came at The Honda Classic in 2020, and the Shriners Children’s Open the following year.
Wang lost to Germany’s Dominic Foos on the second extra hole last year and is well placed for another run at the title this weekend.
“Today was obviously a pretty good round, I mean I was bogey free today,” said Wang.
“This week my driver felt pretty good, and I enjoy coming out to this course every time. And yeah, also my second shots were pretty smooth. My putting felt better than yesterday, so yeah, that’s why I shot a lower score.”
The 27-year-old has been one of the breakout stars on the Asian Tour over the past few seasons. He also tied for second in last year’s Yeangder TPC and was third in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters shortly before just missing out in Macau. He tied for fourth in the Yeangder event last month so has once again arrived here on point.
Austen Truslow.
Truslow started his round on 10 and closed out the nine in style by making an eagle on the par-five 18th, where he drained a brilliant 35-footer. He also made up grand at the end of the second nine with birdies on seven and nine. He was also bogey free today.
He said: “You know, I’ve kind of learned how to feel more comfortable on this course, it’s not a course that suits my eye very much. Didn’t grow up playing a lot of mountain golf, like not that this is a mountain course, but it kind of feels like it. I’ve played more so since I moved to Alabama of kind of hilly golf, so it feels a little bit more familiar.”
Zhou Yanhan, China’s 18-year-old star, fired a 70 to finish the day in a tie for 14th on six under. He had shared the first-round lead with Im and Australian Will Florimo. Florimo shot a 76 and is even par.
Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, one of the event’s marquee players, carded a 69 and is also in a tie for 14th.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
China’s teenage golf star Zhou Yanhan, Sungjae Im from Korea, and Australian Will Florimo shared the first-round lead today at the SJM Macao Open after shooting fine six-under-par 64s.
They lead by one shot at Macau Golf & Country Club from a large group of players, who returned 65s: Thailand’s Pavit Tangkamolprasert, the current leader of the Asian Tour Order of Merit and the winner of this event 10 years ago, Henrik Stenson from Sweden, Australian Jed Morgan, Chase Koepka from the United States, Jose Toledo from Guatemala, China’s Wu Ashun and Kelvin Si, impressively flying the flag for Macau.
Zhou [main picture] is just 18 years old and making his debut on the Asian Tour.
He said: “It’s a brilliant experience playing on the Tour, I love the course and I love the people here. Just an amazing experience here.”
He made seven birdies and dropped one shot, on the sixth – after which he responded with three birdies in a row.
With the wind up and the course tight it was an impressive start to the week.
Sungjae Im.
“This course is not that open, so you have to make sure your ball is safe and your ball is in play and just try to hole the putts.”
Zhou has been one of his country’s most talked about players over the past few seasons. In 2025 he triumphed seven times on the China Tour and secured the Order of Merit. He has also been playing well on the DP World Tour, most noticeably finishing joint second in the Danish Golf Championship in August and equal third in the Hainan Classic in February.
He also made his mark when he debuted on the Asian Development Tour in January when he tied for fifth in the PKNS Selangor Masters.
Im, who tied for seventh here last year, was bogey free today and birdied the par-five 18th late in the day to catch Zhou and Florimo – who were out in the morning flights.
“It’s a very windy day today,” said Im, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour who made his fourth appearance in the Presidents Cup last month.
“It played to the plan that we had before the round. Playing last year and then knowing the course was a big help.
“If the wind stays on this direction, the three days is gonna be same plan.”
Pavit won this event in 2016 for his first success on the Asian Tour.
“I have a lot of good memories from that year,” he said.
“Our King Rama IX passed away that year, on the Thursday. So, I just said to myself, from then on, win for him. So, yeah, it was emotional and this week has special meaning.”
Will Florimo.
Pavit won the Yeangder TPC last month, for his third victory on the Asian Tour, and presently leads the Merit list from Travis Smyth from Australia in second and Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho in third. The winner of the Merit list will earn a DP World Tour card for next year.
Pictured by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
Overview
Having been inaugurated in 1998, when Japan’s Satoshi Oide recorded a surprise victory, the Macao Open has established itself as one of the Asian Tour’s longest running events.
It has been through several sponsorship cycles and welcomed SJM Resorts on board as title sponsor in 2023. Since then the tournament has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in its history. This has also been due to the incredible support provided by the other key stakeholders: the Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government, Macau Golf & Country Club, Macau Golf Association, and IMG.
SJM Resorts is a leading force in Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure industry.
Some of the world’s finest players have won here, including Lee Westwood, Colin Montgomerie, and Min Woo Lee, as have many of the Asian Tour’s finest, Zhang Lianwei, Anirban Lahiri, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Thaworn Wiratchant, Pavit Tangkamolprasert, and Scott Hend. Zhang, Bhullar, and Hend all have the distinction of winning twice.
Some famous names have also finished second, Vijay Singh and Nick Price, in particular – moments that all add to the significance of the tournament.
Macau Golf & Country Club
Opened in 1993, Macau Golf & Country Club is one of the oldest established golf clubs in Southern China.
The club is a business unit of STDM – a major investment and hospitality company in Macau and the controlling parent company of SJM Holdings Limited.
It has been meticulously planned to combine a resort ambience with an 18-hole championship golf course, superb amenities, first–class management, attentive service, excellent food, and an array of activities specially focused on golf tournaments and tuition.
Tournament Information
- Tournament: SJM Macao Open
- Date: 15 – 18 October
- Venue: Macau Golf and Country Club, Macao, China
- Par / Yards: 70 / 6,713 yards
- Purse: US$1million
- Asian Tour leg: Twelfth
- Edition of tournament: 23rd
- Previous winner: Dominic Foos (GER)
- Previous winning score: 263 (-17)
- Total number of players: 144
- Format: Stroke play tournament over 4 rounds of 18 holes with a cut after 36 holes to leading 65 professionals plus ties.
Field Breakdown
- Order of Merit winners: Andy Ogletree (2023), Sihwan Kim (2022), Jazz Janewattananond (2019), Gavin Green (2017)
- Nationalities: 27
- Top contenders: Sungjae Im (KOR), Paul Casey (ENG), Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA), Travis Smyth (AUS), Chien-yao Hung (TPE), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Wei-hsuan WANG (TPE), Henrik Stenson (SWE)
- Highest ranked player on OWGR: Sungjae Im (KOR) #61
- Highest ranked player on the Order of Merit: Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) #1
- No. of amateurs in the field: 8
- No. of Macao Players in the field: 5
Tournament Notes
- Korean Sungjae Im is the highest ranked player in the World Rankings in the field this week at number 61. He currently has two PGA Tour victories on his resume, the 2021 Shriners Children’s Open and the 2020 Honda Classic. He has played on the International squad in the Presidents Cup in the last four editions of the event, including in 2026 at Medinah Country Club in the U.S. last month. In 2026 he has posted six top-10s on the PGA Tour, coming into this week with three straight, with the best result being a T4 at the Valspar Championship in March. This is the second time for Im playing in the SJM Macao Open and last year he finished T7 in the tournament.
- Paul Casey from England is a five-time Ryder Cup player, and during his 25-year professional career he has also collected 15 DP World Tour titles and three PGA Tour titles. He reached as high as number three on the OWGR in 2009 following his win at the BMW PGA Championship on the DP World Tour. He is a five-time Ryder Cupper representing Europe and was on the winning squad three times. His best result in 2026 has been at the Omega European Masters on the DP World Tour where he finished runner-up following a playoff loss to South African Thriston Lawrence.
- Thai Pavit Tangkamolprasert is having an outstanding season, since in addition to the victory at the Yeangder TPC four weeks ago he’s also had a runner-up at the season opening Philippine Golf Championship and a T2 at the International Series Japan this year early in the season. After these fine performances he now sits on top of the Asian Tour Order of Merit table. Won this tournament in 2016 for his first Asian Tour victory
- Travis Smyth from Australia won the International Series Japan in early April, and before that had a third-place finish at the Philippine Golf Championship and a solo-fifth at the New Zealand Open presented by Millbrook Resort. On the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia he early in the year won the ISPS HANDA Japan-Australasia Championship to wrap up the 2025/26 Order of Merit crown on that tour after that victory and two other top-fives. Currently second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.
- Chien-yao Hung from Chinese Taipei won the Mercuries Masters on home soil three weeks ago, and came within two strokes of a playoff the previous week at the Yeangder TPC. Having won three times on the Asian Development Tour before, including once in 2026 at the Ambassador ADT Open, the win was his first in 181 starts and 14 years on the Asian Tour.
- His countryman Wei-hsuan Wang had his best Asian Tour season in 2025 when he finished ninth on the Order of Merit following a runner-up at this tournament following a playoff loss, and a T2 at the Yeangder TPC. He recently had a T4 at the Yeangder TPC after firing a final round 10-under-par 62.
- The 2019 Order of Merit champion Jazz Janewattananond from Thailand is coming into the week in fine form, having finished T3, T4 and T3 in his last three Asian Tour events, the Mercuries Msters, Yeangder TPC and International Series Morocco. He also had a T3 at the Singapore Open presented by The Business Times earlier in the season.
- The winner of the 2016 Open Championship Henrik Stenson from Sweden will be making his debut at Macau Golf & Country Club this week. He has 22 professional wins on his resume – six on the PGA Tour, including the 2009 Players Championship, and 11 on the DP World Tour. He has represented Europe in the Ryder Cup on five occasions and came out on the winning side three times. In 2013 he won the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, after already winning PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup in September, becoming the first player to win the FedEx Cup on the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai. He also won both the DP World Tour Championship and the Tour Championship that same season. In 2016, the year he won the Open Championship, he claimed the Race to Dubai for the second time. He reached his highest ranking on the OWGR in 2014 as number two behind Australian Adam Scott.
Pictures by Graham Uden/Asian Tour.
The Philippine Open, the region’s oldest national open, will return this year boasting record prize money of US$1million and with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as presenting partner.
It will be played at Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, from 12–15 November and play a crucial role in deciding who wins the Order of Merit race.
This year will mark the first time that the tournament, which was inaugurated in 1913, has reached the US$1million mark in prize money, double the purse on offer last year when Frenchman Julien Sale earned his maiden Tour win.
It will also be the most lucrative sports event in the country this year.
For PSC, today’s announcement represents an important extension of their relationship with the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP) and the Asian Tour, and their commitment to promoting the best sporting events in the Philippines. PSC were also presenting partner for the Philippine Golf Championship this year – the Asian Tour’s season-opening event.
Patrick Gregorio, Chairman, PSC, said: “Sports is a key to unlocking the Philippines’ potential for golf tourism. Our people, our athletes, and our destinations are ready to host events of this level. Through partnerships with NGAP and the Asian Tour, we want to continue raising the bar — creating greater opportunities for athlete development, destination development, and ultimately for Philippine sports and tourism.”
Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club. Picture by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour.
The Philippine Open returned to the Asian Tour last year following a hiatus of 10 years. It was a popular return for one of the region’s most endearing national opens that means so much to the Asian Tour.
Local hero, Miguel Tabuena has confirmed he will compete and will attempt to claim the title for a third time after victories in 2015 and 2018. He triumphed in the International Series Philippines last year, for one of his country’s greatest sporting victories.
Al Panlilio, President, NGAP, said: “Breaking the US$1 million mark is a landmark moment for the Philippine Open and a powerful statement about the growth and potential of golf in the Philippines. With the support of the Philippine Sports Commission, the Asian Tour and Manila Southwoods, we are giving our players a bigger stage while showcasing the Philippines as a world-class golf and sports destination. NGAP is proud to help take the Philippine Open to this next level.”
Cho Minn Thant, Commissioner & CEO, Asian Tour, said: “We welcomed back the Philippine Open with open arms at the start of last year, and we are excited to see it back this year in such a prominent position. It’s an event of huge importance to use, as is our relationship with the NGAP.
“The tournament is a natural fit for the ambitions of the Philippine Sports Commission, and along with Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, we are truly grateful for their backing and enthusiasm.
This year will mark the sixth time that Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club has hosted the event. It also staged it in 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999 and 2025.
The tournament will be played on their Masters Course.
Bob Sobrepeña, Chairman, Manila Southwoods Golf & Country Club, said: “We are pleased to host the 2026 Philippine Open and be a part of the Asian Tour. Our club has always supported both amateur and professional golf and there is no other event larger than the Philippine Open which will showcase the best of Philippine golf. We will do our very best to prepare and present our golf course at its very best to provide a true test of championship golf for all the participants. We thank the National Golf Association of the Philippines and the Asian Tour for holding this prestigious event at our club. Rest assured we will do our part to ensure the success of this year’s Philippine Open!”
The Asian Tour heads to the SJM Macao Open next week and will be followed by the Link Hong Kong Open the week after before attention turns to the national open of the Philippines.
Main picture: Julien Sale pictured winning last year.
Two golfing icons, Lee Westwood and Paul Casey, plus Anthony Kim have announced they will compete in the Link Hong Kong Open, to be played in just two weeks time.
They are the latest big-name additions to the US$2million event, which already includes: Hong Kong number one Taichi Kho, America’s Harold Varner III and Talor Gooch, plus South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester.
The 65th edition of the event will take place at the Hong Kong Golf Club from 22-25 October.
English veteran Westwood will be returning to the tournament for the first time since 2009, and said: “It has been a long time since I competed at the Hong Kong Open, and I cannot wait to return to compete against the strong field of players who have signed up this year. While I have not played this tournament for nearly 20 years, I have visited this beautiful city many times during this time. I enjoy the energy of Hong Kong very much, and I always have the best experience when I am there.”
The 53-year-old is a former world number one and recorded top three finishes in Majors no less than six times since he turned professional in 1993. With 44 professional wins, he has put together one of the most consistent and decorated careers in modern golf history. He is also an eight time winner on the Asian Tour.
His countryman, Casey is playing the Link Hong Kong Open for the second consecutive year, following a 20-year hiatus when he entered the tournament as a 28-year-old in 2005. A 21-time winner on tour, Casey has carded top-10s in all four Majors, with his best result coming at the 2020 PGA Championship, when he finished in tied second place.
The former world number three said: “I love the fans in Hong Kong as they are a knowledgeable crowd and really appreciate great golf. That’s why I have been a frequent traveler to this amazing city the last few years. I am looking forward to competing well there, and to showing appreciation to my fans there.”
Entering the tour as a sensational young prodigy in 2006, Kim reached number six in the world two years later and had three PGA Tour titles under his belt before the age of 25. The American then dropped off the world circuit due to injury and did not play competitive golf again until March 2024.
Anthony Kim. Picture by Jordan Bank/Getty Images.
It took the 41-year-old one season to find his form, and by February 2026, Kim was back in the winner’s circle when he secured arguably the most historic of individual comeback victories in sport when he won LIV Golf Adelaide in front of nearly 40,000 fans.
The Los Angeles native said: “I always have a great time playing in Hong Kong and enjoyed my four rounds at the Link Hong Kong Open last year. This year has been unbelievable for me, and I am so grateful to be back playing full time. Golf has given me so much and I will give it my all with this second opportunity that has been presented to me. I look forward to catching up with my fans in Hong Kong and showing my appreciation for their support.”
The Link Hong Kong Open 2026 champion will earn an automatic invitation to compete at the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club and a starting place at The Open at St Andrews in 2027.
Admission to the opening rounds on Thursday and Friday is free for the public.
In keeping with the tournament and title sponsor’s vision to take golf to all communities of Hong Kong, ticket prices have been frozen at current prices since 2023.
The tournament is proud of being an “M” Mark event that helps enhance the image of Hong Kong as Asia’s sports event capital. The “M” Mark, awarded by the Major Sports Events Committee, symbolises it as an intense, spectacular and signature event on the territory’s sports calendar.
Daily prices for Saturday and Sunday are HKD200 per day or HKD300 for a weekend pass. Weekend passes are also free for spectators 18 and under.
For more information please visit: www.thehongkongopen.com
Main picture: Lee Westwood. Picture by Getty Images.
Tom Kim [main picture] put together a brilliant final round to win the gold medal in the individual category at the Asian Games today – adding another prestigious continental title to his collection, to go along with his Asian Tour Order of Merit crown.
Kim showed today why is one of the game’s most exciting young players, and a four-time winner on the PGA TOUR, when he fired a confident six-under-par 64 for a three-stroke victory. He finished on 18-under on the East Course at Kasugai Country Club, Nagoya, Japan.
Kazuki Higa from Japan, Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana, and Ding Wenyi from China, tied for second and entered a play-off to decide the silver and bronze medal positions.
Higa, last year’s Asian Tour number one, secured the silver after making birdie on the fourth extra hole, while Sadom won bronze, after he made birdie on the first hole of a second play-off. The play-offs were played in the 18th. Higa had closed with a 66, Sadom a 63 and Ding a 64.
Ding’s disappointment was significantly lessened by the fact that China beat Korea to the team gold.
Tom Kim. Picture by Zhe Ji/Getty Images.
His performance, along with his team-mate Jin Zihao, who closed with a 66, saw them take the team title by two shots from Korea. Japan claimed the bronze finishing another three shots back. The two best scores from each three-man counted towards the team score.
Kim, aged 24, started the day with a one-shot cushion and pulled away from the field from the outset. The 2020-2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner birdied holes two, four, six and eight before leaving the chasing pack trailing in his wake with a birdie on 11 and eagle on 13. He dropped his only shot of the day on 17, by which time he had well and truly sealed the individual title.
That dropped shot on the penultimate hole proved to be costly though in the team competition. Korea were tied with China over the closing holes while Kim’s countryman Mun Doyeob also dropped a shot at the same hole.
Consolation for Kim is that his gold medal means he will be excused from his mandatory military service, except for a few weeks of basic training. All able-bodied males in Korea are obligated to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military once they turn 19. They can postpone the date of their service, but without a significant cultural justification, like an Olympic medal, service is mandatory. The gold medal in the men’s or team competitions was sufficient.
In the women’s tournament India’s Pranavi Sharath Urs won the individual gold, with China claiming the team gold.
Tom Kim [main picture] has control of the Asian Games after taking the third-round lead today on the East Course at Kasugai Country Club, Nagoya, Japan.
The former Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, who now plies his trade on the PGA TOUR, fired a five-under-par 65 to lead on 12-under.
Japan’s Kazuki Higa, last year’s Merit list winner, and Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese-Taipei are in second pace, one shot back. Higa returned a 67 and Wang a 68, in what is the 20th staging of the quadrennial event.
China’s Ding Wenyi is in sole possession of fourth following a 70, while Sadom Kaewkanjana (63) from Thailand, Korean Mun Doyeob (69), and Japan’s Keita Nakajima (70), and are equal fifth. Nakajima won the individual and team gold in 2018 in Indonesia when he was an amateur.
Korea’s Kim made up ground over the closing holes with an eagle on the par- five 13th and a birdie on hole 16.
Kazuki Higa. Picture by Zhe Ji/Getty Images.
His and Mun’s rounds saw Korea, who also have Kim Seonghyeon in their side, move to the top of the team standings, ahead of Japan with China presently in the bronze medal position. Korea are the defending champions in the team competition, although they have a completely different team this year. The two best scores from each team count.
Kim, the 2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, also has one eye on trying to win a gold medal so that he will be excused from his mandatory military service. All able-bodied males in Korea are obligated to serve between 18 and 21 months in the military once they turn 19. They can postpone the date of their service, but without a significant cultural justification, like an Olympic medal, service is mandatory. A gold medal in the men’s or team competitions will be sufficient.
Taichi Kho returned a 69 to finish on two-under meaning the Hong Kong number one has too much to do tomorrow to successfully defend his individual title that he won at the 2022 Asian Games, in China.
A total of 20 Asian Tour members are competing out of a starting field of 66 players.
The Games, officially known as Aichi-Nagoya 2026, are being held mainly in Aichi Prefecture and its capital city, Nagoya.
It is the third time Japan has hosted the multi-sport event, following Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994.
Approximately 11,000 athletes are competing in over 43 sports featuring 469 medal events.
Reigning Asian Tour Order of Merit champion Kazuki Higa [main picture] from Japan and Wang Wei-hsuan from Chinese-Taipei took the first-round lead today at the Asian Games in Japan – on a day when Asian Tour members exceled.
They shot five-under-par 65s on the East Course at Kasugai Country Club, in the 20th edition of the quadrennial event, which is being held mainly in Aichi Prefecture and its capital city, Nagoya.
Korean Mun Doyeob and China’s Sampson Zheng, also both Asian Tour members, finished the day in a tie for third following 66s. They were joined by India’s Saptak Talwar and Keita Nakajima from Japan.
Tom Kim from Korea, the 2020-2022 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, carded a 67 and is next best placed with Ding Wenyi from China.
Hong Kong’s Taichi Kho, who is attempting to win back-to-back gold medals in the individual category having been successful at the 2022 games in China, fired a 69 to stay in the hunt.
Wang Wei-hsuan.
Both Higa and Wang have been in form on the Asian Tour recently, with Higa coming close to successfully defending his Yeangder TPC title two weeks ago in Chinese-Taipei. He finished runner-up while Wang tied for fourth.
Chinese-Taipei’s Hung Chien-yao, winner of last week’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters, shot a 72 and will need to find some form quickly if he is to come close to matching the bronze medal he won in 2022.
With the two best scores from each team counting, Japan lead the team competition from Korea and China who are tied for second. Taishi Moto is the third member of the Japanese side with Higa and Nakajima.
Korea are the defending champions in the team competition, although they feature a completely different line up this year with Kim Seonghyeon playing alongside Tom Kim and Mun.
A total of 20 Asian Tour members are competing in the Asian Games out of a starting field of 66 players.
Live scores scores and tee times here.
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